Report into management of Ministers’ papers

Archives New Zealand
today released a review of its systems and processes for
managing Ministers’ papers and security classified
information.

Archives New Zealand commissioned the report
by former Ombudsmen Mel Smith, following the accidental
release by Archives New Zealand earlier this year of some of
the late David Lange’s Ministerial papers.

Archives New
Zealand welcomes the report, which has identified a number
of opportunities for improvement. Archives New Zealand will
be working internally and with other agencies to review and
implement its findings.

“The integrity of the public
record is, of course, of critical importance to Archives New
Zealand,” said Chief Archivist, Dianne Macaskill.

“We
have already put in place a number of improvements,
resulting from the release of some security classified
papers earlier this year. This report recommends further
changes, some of which we can pursue immediately, and others
we will need to consider further,” Ms Macaskill said.

A
working group, involving Archives New Zealand, the
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and other relevant
departments will be established to work through the report's
conclusions and to report to Ministers on the issues
raised.

The report notes the complexity of this issue, and
the need to balance a range of interests such as security,
access and
privacy.

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